Washington: Single women would rather prefer the company of a dog than men, according to experts. A petcare service owner said that more and more single women were in favour of the four-legged loyal and reliable companion.

"In the past year 60 per cent of our new business has come from young single women. It's a growing trend I've noticed over the last few years. These are women who live busy lives," media quoted him as saying.

"They want company when they get home. In many cases you'll find the dog sleeps in their bedroom, and even in bed with them," he added.

Dogs New South Wales President Dr Peter Higgins nodded in agreement.

He said: "The fastest growing segment of dog owners in the inner city is young single women. It's almost like a child substitute. They lead busy lives and they're not in a relationship. That's why dogs like Maltese terriers, which are the second most popular dog in Australia and the most popular dog in Sydney, are popular - they're little and they have human-like features."

Australian Companion Animal Council President Dr Kersti Seksel attempted to explain the preference.

She said: "If you live alone, having a dog as a companion to come home to is often more appealing than a flatmate. Owning a dog increases the feeling of safety and security."